Delavan | Wisconsin

Yah, well, trying to do a play on “lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my” from the Wizard of Oz with the title of this blog… It’s Friday afternoon, it’s fairly hot out and therefore a bit muggy in my office, and you get what you get under those conditions! Besides, if you’re a reader of this blog, you should pretty much have my personality and/or sense of humor figured out by now. 😀

Alrighty then! So Brick Street Days is happening next weekend, Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23. With that is the celebration of the arts, history, music and culture of Delavan. This annual event stems from the original weekend in 2015 when Walldog mural artists descended on Delavan and painted the first 18 murals depicting various aspects of Delavan’s history. There are now 20 murals, with the most recent having been painted during last year’s Brick Street Days. There will be two guided tours (by wagon) of the downtown Walldog murals offered on Saturday, at noon and 1:30 pm. The tour can be picked up at the corner of 2nd Street and Walworth Avenue. It’s first come / first serve, with limited space, so plan accordingly.

Brick Street Days will officially kick off on Friday night at the Phoenix Park Bandshell. The LoveMonkeys, a Milwaukee band known best for entertaining the heck out of their audiences (I can attest to that, in having seen them multiple times over the years), are performers of rock, pop, reggae, country and original music. Synonyms used to describe them include entertaining, charismatic, fun and energetic. I agree with that list of words!

Saturday morning begins early at 9 am with brick laying dedication as commemorative bricks are being placed throughout the Downtown. 11 am brings arts and craft vendors, artists and art demonstrations, music, food, demonstrations by local businesses, kids activities, guided mural tours, live music, and much more. The Information Center will be open 10 am – 4:30 pm on Saturday only, located at 303 E. Walworth Avenue.

Also happening on Saturday is the Carson & Barnes Circus at Lake Lawn Resort’s Airport grounds with shows at 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm, and 7:30 pm.The family of the Carson & Barnes Circus is proud to present the World Debut of CircusSaurus! With the dawn of a new day comes a new era under the Big Top, and those that were once extinct will re-emerge again – right before your eyes! Watch as the Big Top is transformed into a time machine and embark on an adventure of a lifetime! Be amazed as dinosaurs shake the very ground we walk on. The trio of Deinoychus – Rumble, Rascal and Rebel – will transport you back in time and show you why dinosaurs ruled the land!

With so much to do next weekend, and more to choose from on Sunday, make it a weekend getaway of family fun, filled with memories in the making!

Being vegan, I look forward to this time of year with the variety of fresh, locally grown produce. No offense to my grocery store’s produce department, which I love, but there’s just something about farmers’ markets that has me trying veggies I wouldn’t even glance at in the grocery store (like Brussels sprouts!). Not that you care about my eating habits, but fresh, locally grown produce – fruits, veggies, jams, honey, etc. – even has me being more creative in my cooking.

Lucky for all of us, the farmers’ markets in Delavan begin this week and go through the end of September.

Personally, I’m loving the timing of one being on Thursday and the other being on Friday, so that I can easily attend both!

How about you? Will I see you there, meaning at both of them, of course?! If not, that just means more fresh, locally produce for me! Come join me and we can swap recipes and ideas for how to use the great stuff we’ll be getting.

It’s summer and as a kid that meant going to the movies to beat the heat ‘coz the theater had air conditioning! Well how about the option of watching a movie outdoors, in the park, under the stars? And how about if it was free to do?! Got your attention, don’t I…?

Darien ~

Head to West Park with blankets and lawn chairs for a relaxing evening watching a movie under the stars! Admission is free and the movie begins at 8:45 pm.June 15 – Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie

Delavan ~

Bring the whole family, all your friends and the neighborhood to Phoenix Park and enjoy a fun night watching a movie on a cinema-sized screen. Bring your own blankets and lawn chairs for getting comfy. Feel free to bring your own snacks, or don’t worry about it and enjoy the concessions that will be available. Admission is free and the movies begin at either 9 pm or 8:30 pm (see the listing above).June 8 – The Greatest ShowmanJuly 20 – FerdinandAugust 3 – Coco

This is such an easy decision to make in, so get these dates marked on your calendar!

For other family-friendly events going on in Delavan this summer,
go to VisitDelavan.com

Yes, it’s going actually going to be summer! The grass and trees are finally green, the farm fields are planted and the weather is getting progressively and consistently warmer. Patience in waiting it out is being rewarded! Memorial Day weekend is a time of both remembrance and the unofficial start to summer, with activities encompassing both.

People have come together to honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country since the earliest ceremonies following the Civil War. As it was done then with the laying of wreaths and placing of flags, so it is still done today on this national day of remembrance. Another tradition is a Memorial Day parade, so as Washington, D.C., and Chicago for example, hold a Memorial Day Parade, so does Delavan. It will be on Monday, May 28, and begins at Main St. and Walworth Ave., in the Downtown, at 9 am. The parade goes to Spring Grove Cemetery for a ceremony that includes a rifle salute and taps.

The unofficial kick-off to summer has a wide variety of activities to go along wit this weekend. Start the weekend at N.E.W. Dueling Piano Guys on Friday, May 25, at 8 pm. It’s a fun night of music ranging from Billy Joel to Britney Spears to Bruno Mars and whatever you can think of to challenge them to play! The Piano Guys are the perfect combo of concert, comedy and creativity that will have you tapping your toe, laughing out loud and singing along! If you can’t make it Friday, they play Saturday as well, same time.

Saturday, May 26, at Delavan Lake Resort, from 2 – 4 pm, will help kick-off summer with Sangria and Saxophones. Hang out on the ‘patio’, sipping the first specialty sangria of the summer, Pineapple Moscato Summer, and listen to the cool sounds of live saxophone music. Other specials include $2 Affogatos (that’s a shot of espresso over a scoop of ice cream), $2 Rootbeer floats, and a free Delavan Lake souvenir with any apparel purchase. Sunday, May 27, from 9 am – 2 pm, start the day off with a Bloody Mary at the Build-Your-Own Skewer Bar! Bring out your inner bartender by putting together your own skewer from the variety of fun ingredients that will be provided.

Memorial Day weekend is typically when the bulk of the outdoor beautification happens, with hanging baskets, flowers, gardens, etc. are being thought of. Congdon Garden‘s will those their annual garden sale, this year titled ‘Through the Garden Gate’, on Saturday, May 25, from 9 am – 3 pm. Come browse the garden art and unique shrubs & trees for sale, as well as books, food, and various garden vendors attending. Get ideas from the variety of different areas at the Gardens to then do at your own home.

Rosewood also brings you a Bloody Mary and a Mimosa with their unlimited Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar as part of their Memorial Day Sunday Brunch, held on Sunday, May 27. Seatings are at 11:30 am and 1 pm, offering up a unique, farm-to-table brunch with a chef-attended pasta station, omelets made-to-order, carving station, displayed hot & cold buffets, all finished off with their delectable sweets table.

Rosewood also begins this weekend their ‘Sunset on the Patio‘ event. Imagine Sunday afternoons from 5 – 10 pm, gathering with friends on a rustic and elegant patio with wine, beer and the summer beverages of your choice. Add grilled vegetable and meat kabobs, multiple fire pits, live music, dancing and special entertainment features, all as the sun sets over the beautiful Wisconsin country side. This is so the place to be with the expansive 4,000 square foot patio, cabana bar, raised gardens with flowers and herbs, a wood bonfire pit as well as gas fire pits, and comfy Adirondack chairs you’ll want to try and sneak home for your own deck or patio!

For a lake view on Sunday, May 27, find your way to Lake Lawn Resort and the Lakeside Lawn Party & Sizzling Pig Roast Buffet, 4:30 – 7 pm. Live music by Triple D will also be happening so your ears as well as your taste buds will be happy! The menu will leave you both satiated and wanting for more as you won’t be able to stop eating – it’s so good! Enjoy pulled whole rotisserie roasted pork sandwiches with smoked apple bourbon barbecue sauce, KC style cracked black pepper barbecue chicken, or Wisconsin grilled bratwurst burgers and this comes with all the summer buffet fixings of greens, pasta, potato, and fruit salads, brisket baked beans, jalapeno cheddar chive corn bread muffins with honey butter, and then there’s the desserts of make-your-own spring berry shortcake and chocolate peanut buttercream cupcakes. Oh my goodness…!

No matter how you choose to spend Memorial Day weekend in Delavan, there’s something to do, and so much in fact, you’ll just have to come back! To help plan that return trip, go to

Kid: Mom! I need to take a treat to school for the entire class.
Mom: When do you need this treat?
Kid: Today! And it needs to be gluten-free, no nuts, no dairy,
and one kid is allergic to strawberries, so no strawberries.

Anyone been there with that scenario? How about your kid needing money that very day for some registration deadline or another, it has to be cash as checks aren’t accepted, and you’re certainly not handing over your debit/credit card to your kid to take to school, and you’ve got no cash on you? I know you know what I’m talking about.

Well, it’s Mother’s Day this weekend, Sunday, May 13, and now’s the time to get some appreciation shown for those and other scenarios we as moms have lived through. Here’s some ideas happening in Delavan to make Mom’s day stand out.

So this first idea might be a little unorthodox, but it’ll certainly be memorable. Take Mom tree climbing! It’s a great way to get out in nature, get a little exercise and have some definite fun. House In The Wood, offers tree climbing from 12 – 2 pm on Sunday, May 13. After a how-to and safety tutorial, tree climbers use ropes and harnesses to climb in to the towering trees. Once there, you can sit or stand on the branches, swing or hang upside down! I personally loved tree climbing as a kid and would be game to give it a go around again.

Thinking maybe something a little closer to the ground might be better for Mom? Then head over to Dancing Horses Theatre! The current show, “The Power of a Dream”, has been crafted to evoke memories that many of us have from our childhood. What better timing than doing this with Mom? The show features an array of horse breeds, performing alongside their trainers in beautiful equestrian artistry. It’s an absolute must-see, horse lover or not. The performance is Sunday, May 13, at 1 pm. Come early to see the Exotic Bird Show at 11 am or stay later and see it at 3 pm.

If Mom is a music lover, then show her some lovin’ at Rosewood with their Mother’s Day Brunch and ‘Legends & Love Songs’ show. The ‘Legends & Love Songs’ features unforgettable voices, that are timeless and ageless, with such artists as Elvis, Barbara Streisand, Tom Jones, Diana Ross, Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline, Frank Sinatra and Celine Dion.Brunch includes an unlimited Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar, with chef-attended pasta-made-to-order, omelet-made-to-order, and carving station, as well as displayed hot and cold buffet, fresh baked pastries and Rosewood’s delectable Sweet Table. Brunch and show are Sunday, May 13, with seatings at 11:30 am and 1 pm, and show at 2 pm.

If food and food only is Mom’s thing, then Lake Lawn Resort has a Mother’s Day Brunch to suit. Featuring everything from chef-prepared omelets and malted Belgian waffles, to cider-brined breast of turkey and BBQ rubbed roast beef at the chef’s carvery, with so much more besides. Mom will also receive a freshly cut flower and an entry in a special Mother’s Day drawing where she could win a Calladora Spa 50-minute Glo Facial. Brunch is served on Sunday, May 13, from 9:30 am – 4 pm, with the last seating at 3 pm.

With the weather having gotten warmer and looking like it will stay that way, take Mom over to Busy B’s Garden Center. Open from 10 am – 3 pm on Sunday, May 13, let Mom pick out a beautiful hanging flower basket or choose individual plants and flowers for a container or all the above and then some! You can then head home and help Mom put it all together, finally making it seem like winter is for sure gone and spring / summer is here.

No matter what you choose to do with Mom on Mother’s Day, it’s the time spent together that’s the most important and meaningful. Happy Mother’s Day to all my fellow moms!

Sure signs of spring – a robin, a motorcycle, top down on a car, snowfall from 4 days ago melted… And with May being National Bike Month! That last part has to seal the deal with there being no more snow, right? Please and thank you to Mother Nature…!

A great way to get back in the saddle, and have it be both physically beneficial for you and financially beneficial for students at St. Andrews Parish School, a local school, is the Fat Tire Delavan Lake Ride. This is the 8th annual occurrence of this 12 mile ride around scenic Delavan Lake, with designated stops: Start at The Waterfront, then Inn Between Bar & Grill, Scoop’s, End Zone Sports Bar & Grill, Watershed Saloon, Village Supper Club, and finish back at The Waterfront. Proceeds all go to support technology at St. Andrews Parish School and past Rides have allowed the school to install WiFi, and purchase iPads, smart boards, computers and Chrome notebooks. The Fat Tire Delavan Lake Ride is Saturday, May 5, and is a guaranteed fun day with friends, all for a good cause. Registration opens at 10:30 am, ride starts at 11 am and ends by 5:30 pm. Raffle and poker winners (riders are collecting a poker card at each stop) will be announced starting shortly after 5:30 pm (must be present to win). The registration fee is $25 if paid in advance or $30 the day of. Follow this link for registration and further details.

Swan Creek Corridor Trail System is a community-wide, recreational corridor system that runs along Swan Creek. This graveled pedestrian and bike path currently connects Lange Arboretum, Veteran’s Park, Terrace Park, Rudy Lange Sledding Hill, Lower Springs Park and Upper Springs Park. The winding trail provides various benches/rest areas, several restroom facilities, and is complete with periodic signs and maps to guide its users. The Swan Creek Corridor Trail System may be one of Delavan’s best kept secrets!

Take a leisurely 8.6 mile loop starting and ending in Downtown Delavan to view the serenity of the countryside, three barn quilts and over 400 rose bushes. At just a smidge over a mile out on County Highway P, you’ll find the Duesterbeck Farm proudly displaying their Carpenter’s Wheel barn quilt on the end of their barn. You might also notice their obvious love of certain sports teams, displayed on the silo and side of the barn! 0.8 miles up the road, is the Schmaling Farm and their Corn & Beans barn quilt. I wonder if they chose it specifically to have a secondary excuse for sporting green and yellow (Go Packers!). Keep going out to Hazel Ridge Road, take a right, and for kicks and giggles, count the number of solar panels in the field as you wander by. Take a right on County O, where you’ll then find Doug Amon’s home. Doug’s home offers a quiet getaway where everyone is welcome to ‘Stop and Smell the Roses’. Doug can frequently be seen outside pruning and nurturing the over 400 rose bushes he tends. There are 14 raised beds among the trellises, along with a pond that includes a waterfall and bridge, and a gazebo. Doug also has a ‘Smell the Roses’ Rose Path barn quilt, so you’re getting 2-for-1 enjoyment here. It’s then a casual 3.4 miles back to Downtown.

In June 2015, the Walldogs, a group of talented sign and mural artists from all over the world, gathered in Delavan and transformed the city with beautiful murals bringing to life the varied history of Delavan. While 14 of the 20 existing murals are all within walking distance Downtown, they are also easily accessible by bike, and then you’re ready to roll with seeing the other 6 that are outside the Downtown, the furthest being 3.6 miles from the Downtown, while the others are closer in and on the way to that mural. You can easily pick up the self-guided tour brochure at the Tourism Information Center (2375 E. Geneva St., Delavan, across from Lake Lawn Resort at the airport).

There’s plenty to explore in and around Delavan,
on two wheels or otherwise, so come find your adventure!
Go to VisitDelavan.com

Looking for ways to get out now that spring has finally decided to show itself? And do not remind me of the forecast for this weekend and ruin the thought process…! Okay. Moving on. Research shows that being outdoors can help reduce stress levels, improve physical health, ease anxiety and brighten one’s overall mood. To briefly quote John Muir, “Allow nature’s peace to flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.”

Here are six ways of getting out and about in Delavan.

You don’t need to be a history buff to enjoy learning about Delavan’s varied history. Take a self-guided walking tour of the 20 murals adorning buildings throughout the Downtown area, with a few out and beyond. In June 2015, the Walldogs, a group of talented sign and mural artists from all over the world, gathered in Delavan to paint the original 18 murals, each depicting an aspect of Delavan’s storied history. Since then two more murals have been added.

Get ready to be amazed by the dazzling equestrian show at the Dancing Horses Theatre. Marvel at the pageantry and beautiful blend of skill and communication between horse and human, through the majesty of the exquisitely trained horses. Be sure to make time for the full adventure, which includes the 40-acre Animal Gardens, home to 16 species of exotic creatures and 60 hay-eating animals, and then watch the always entertaining Exotic Bird Show, featuring Echo, the singing bird from America’s Got Talent.

Take a leisurely stroll along the historic brick street through the Downtown, checking out the unique, one-of-a-kind shops. You’ll easily find that treasured item you didn’t even know you needed! Don’t forget to stop and see the largest collection of cookie jars in the Midwest, found at Remember When Antiques. A visit Downtown isn’t complete without shopping at Bradley’s Department Store, one of the oldest, continuously operating department stores in the country.

Enjoy Delavan Lake in other ways than just with the view while golfing, by paddle boarding, kayaking, boating, swimming, fishing, or go ahead and just sit and relax along the lake shore.

Do you have a green thumb and love gardening? Congdon Gardens will offer beauty and inspiration with its ever changing display of flowers, shrubs and trees surrounding a serene pond. Walk through the various gardens, snap some photos, get inspired, or just enjoy the peace and serenity. You could even pick up some carry out treats at any of the local eateries and have a picnic in the gazebo.

Whatever you choose to do to find yourself out and about in Delavan,
you can always go to VisitDelavan.com for ways to find your adventure!

It’s no foolin’ that Easter is coming soon! On April 1, in fact, which as we all know is also April Fools’ Day. How many parents have a sense of humor like I do, so that you’re going to tell the kiddos that the Easter Bunny forgot to come this year, wait for their crestfallen look, and then say “April Fools’!!”? Come on – admit I’m not alone in having that prank idea! My kids are all 20-something and living on their own, so should be beyond the Easter basket and candy hunt around the house thing, but no… I’ll get the look if I pull this prank and then I’ll watch as the look becomes such that I know they’re thinking of what prank to pull on me as payback.

Easter in Delavan brings the fun of the Bunny, the Easter egg hunt and Easter brunches.

Bring the family and have breakfast with the Easter Bunny at United Methodist Church, Saturday, March 31, 8 am – 12 pm. This annual event is sponsored by the Delavan Lions Club and this year the proceeds benefit the Special Olympics of Walworth County. The menu includes scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits & gravy, pancakes, orange juice, coffee and milk. Tickets are available at Piggly Wiggly in Delavan or at the door, with adults $7 , children (ages 5 – 10) $5, and children under 4 free. Good eats and a good cause, along with lots of great raffle prizes! Head across the street to Phoenix Park at 9:45 am for the annual Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by the Delavan-Delavan Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. It’s always a fun time finding the Easter eggs filled with goodies hidden all over the park.

If you’re an adult and feeling left out of the Easter egg hunt thing, did you forget I mentioned that my kids are all 20-something and still expect an Easter basket and goodies? Seems you’re never too old… Staller Estate Winery knows how we feel and takes care of the need to still be a kid in searching for Easter eggs to a whole new level. Their ‘Easter Dusting‘ allows adults (ages 21 and older) to search for an egg (one per person) and then trade it in for a prize. Prizes vary from discounts, to wine & chocolate flights, to bottles of wine. If you’re wondering what the ‘dusting’ part is all about, well, some of the eggs are easy to find and others might not be, such that you could be ‘dusting’ the floor or a hard-to-reach shelf to find an egg. With prizes being wine-related, all I say is that it’s great being an
adult!

Easter brunch is not to be missed! It knocks the socks off any brunch, any day, in my opinion!

Lake Lawn Resort’s Easter Brunch starts at 9:30 am and the last seating is at 3 pm. Reservations are required, so call 262.725.9155 to make yours now. The brunch selection includes:

The second weekend of March, annually for the last 10 years and now this coming weekend for the 11th year, Delavan opens its arms for the Delavan Train Show. This year there are 35+ exhibits at 18 locations throughout Downtown Delavan to help fulfill your fantasy of being a train engineer! There’s even engineer caps, bandanas and wooden train whistles for sale to add to the feel and have as a souvenir. Also available are t-shirts for purchase in kids’ sizes and some adult sizes.

The Train Show is Saturday, March 10, 9 am – 4 pm, and Sunday, March 11, 10 am – 4 pm. I would suggest starting at the Delavan American Legion (111 S. Second Street) to pick up your ‘train ticket’ and map, see all the exhibits there, and then head on out for the other 17 locations. Make sure to get your ‘train ticket’ punched at each location, fill out the back of it, and drop it in the entry form box at any location for a chance to win a Delavan Train Show Getaway Package.

The 35+ exhibits feature train layouts in multiple scales, showcasing some of the most exciting layouts you see at the ‘big’ shows, as well as beautiful local area layouts, but all within the feel of a small town festival atmosphere. The majority of the layouts are interactive, and some even allow you to take control with switches and buttons to make things happen on the layout. One exhibit has an “I Spy” game you can play with finding specific characters and details in the large layout. All the exhibitors do their utmost best to make the exhibits entertaining and kid-friendly for all to enjoy.

All 18 locations are within walking distance from each other and Mother Nature is showing the weather this coming weekend as being sunny and in the low 40s. Should you wish, there’s a trolley you can ride as well, from one end of the Downtown to the other, with three stops available to catch it – Rosebuds Floral & Gifts, Pet Pals and Aram Public Library. Again this year is the ‘trackless’ train ride for the kids – okay, make that kids of ALL ages – at Tower Park. No need to make an excuse as an adult to ride it, ‘coz we know you want to!

Grab a bit to eat along the way at any of the numerous restaurants in the Downtown, some of which have exhibits, too. Makes taking a break for lunch an easy decision when you can view an exhibit at the same time. You just have to decide where to eat! Beyond getting any souvenirs and something to eat, this event is FREE! Free admission, free parking, free door prizes, free ‘trackless’ train ride, free trolley…FREE! How many family-friendly, fun events like this do you know of that are FREE?!

New this year is the Center for Railroad Photography & Art’s (CRP&A) exhibit titled “Faces of Railroading: Railroads & the Making of Madison and Dane County”. The exhibit consists of 36 framed exhibit quality digital prints and will be on display at Aram Public Library. The CRP&A is committed to telling railroading’s stories, by collecting, preserving and making available imagery that portrays the nearly 200-year history of railroads. The Delavan Train Show Team was lucky enough to learn about this organization and is pleased to bring this particular exhibit to the Train Show this year.

If you don’t have plans for this coming weekend, then you do now with attending the 11th Annual Delavan Train Show! Again, it’s Saturday, March 10, 9 am – 4 pm, and Sunday, March 11, 10 am – 4 pm. See you there!